The Parable of the Lost Son: hidden meanings | Religious education

Starter quiz

In the Parable of the Good Shepherd, a ______ gets lost.

'sheep' ✓
In the Parable of the Lost Son, what does the younger son do when he leaves home?

he spends his money well

he works on the farm

he wastes all his money ✓
Put the first part of the story in the Parable of the Lost Son in the correct order.

1

⇔

The younger son asks for money.

2

⇔

The younger son spends all of the money.

3

⇔

He has to look after some pigs.

4

⇔

He goes back home to ask for his father's forgiveness.
Match the parables below to the characters that appear in them.

Parable of the Good Samaritan

⇔

an injured man ✓

Parable of the Good Shepherd

⇔

a lost sheep ✓

Parable of the Lost Son

⇔

a father ✓

The Parable of the Lost Son is an important story for ...

Christians. ✓

Jews.

Muslims.
In the Parable of the Lost Son, the __________ represents God.

father ✓

younger son

older son
Put the second part of the story in the Parable of the Lost Son in the correct order.

1

⇔

The younger son returns home.

2

⇔

The father has a party for the younger son.

3

⇔

The older son is cross and jealous.

4

⇔

The father goes out to talk to the older son.
Why was the older son envious of the younger son?

the younger son had to look after pigs

the father forgave the younger son and had a party ✓

the older son had to work hard while the younger son had fun spending the money ✓

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For many Christians, the Parable of the Lost Son teaches them about what God is like.
Many Christians interpret the parable as meaning that God welcomes everyone back, even when they have made mistakes.
The parable also mentions an older brother who was envious of his younger brother.
We can look for the hidden meanings in the Parable of the Lost Son so we can better understand Christian worldviews.

The only point of the parable is welcoming home the lost son.

The parable is about the father’s love and forgiveness for both his sons.